Part 32 (1/2)

”Why?” asked Cora curiously.

”Because in about one minute you will see her trailer, the insufferable Sid, and I am not in Sid's humor.

”I would like to speak with Ida,” objected Cora. ”I really wanted to ask her something.”

”Save it,” commanded the ungovernable brother. ”A thing like that gets better with time.”

So they pa.s.sed along, Cora having to be content with a bow and a smile to Ida Giles, who returned both promptly.

”Jack,” said Cora, when they were also up to the hill behind which they hoped to find the idler by the brook, ”do you know I think I have an actual clue to Wren's table. An antique man out Breakwater way has an order for one. I am watching that order.”

”That's easy. When you know that Reed has been in and out of the place for some days. That's the best of being a girl. You can trace around after the most important clues and no one would ever suspect you of knowing what you are after. Now, I rather think when the fete is 'pulled off,' if I may use the term,” and he laughed his apology, ”then there will be some doin's. I just want to see rocky Rob rumpled.”

”Let us not delay talking long with Ed,” proposed Cora, ”for I must be at Hazel's at one--I am so anxious about Paul.”

”About Paul? Why, he's all right. He's out and has been to the office,” was the brother's surprising answer. ”Didn't you hear about Mr. Robinson wanting to send him away for his health? Robinson has taken a great fancy to Paul. The stolen doc.u.ment business is also near a climax. I had a fine time trying to keep Clip's name out of the paper, the day they had the hearing about Wren. You see, I--the great first person--ran into the courtroom just as the judge was dismissing the absurd case set up against Mrs. Salvey. Of course, that was nothing more or less than a trick to get information for the other side. Well, Mr. Robinson was hurrying to court and he has pa.s.sed his running days creditably, I believe when he met me. I took up his run at a moment's notice, reached the courtroom, waved my hands wildly in the air--”

”Oh, Jack!” interrupted Cora; ”don't be so absurd. You know I am just dying to hear what happened.”

”Then don't die until you do hear,” and he slowed up at the hill. ”The fact is, I just caught the whole City News force red-handed with a great story about Clip. The reporters had called her the modern Clara, and all that, but I got it away from them. I know one of the best of them, and he agreed, so they all had to. It was a good little story, for the lawyers were matched against a motor girl. That made it interesting from a newspaper viewpoint. h.e.l.lo! Didn't I tell you?

Say, there, Mr. Foster! Chain up the ram, Ed. We want to approach.”

Just as they rounded the hill, Ed could plainly be seen as Jack had foretold--idling by the brook with the ram in the same picture, but at a polite distance from its owner.

”I thought Walter wanted the ram,” remarked Cora as they neared the spot where Ed was ”getting himself together.”

”Oh, he did. But do you remember what the man said about having to put his overcoat on to feed that animal? Well, he wouldn't even stand for Walter, with or without the ulster. He tried his best raincoat and all, but the ram just went for him. But look how he purrs around Ed--tame as a kitten.”

”I am not going to trust him, though,” decided Cora. ”One experience with Mr. Minus is enough for me. Shout to Ed to come over. I must hurry.”

Cora's invitation to go to Breakwater came almost as a shock, Ed declared, but coming from Cora he would accept. Consequently he hurried the ram to its quarters, and, agreeing to look up Walter, the girl was left to pay her visit to Hazel.

”We fellows will start from here about daybreak,” Jack decided, ”and we will reach Breakwater about ten o'clock. That's the time Doc Bennet gave me for the official gun to go off.”

It happened that Ed knew the young doctor slightly, so that he took Jack's urgent ”appeal” as coming from the actual host.

”I told you he would be glad to join the Motor Girls' Club,” remarked Jack, while Ed was exchanging civilities with Cora. ”He's just been pining around here like a lost--”

”Now, Jack, be square,” interrupted the handsome young man, whom Cora thought had actually grown handsomer in the days since she had last seen him. ”I never pine. I growl--just plain growl.”

”You take me over to Hazel's, Jack?” asked Cora. ”Then you may go along and help look for Walter. I must meet Dr. Bennet at two-thirty.

And then, I wonder, will we be able to get back to Breakwater by six.”

She was thinking of her experience coming out to Chelton; also she kept on the lookout for Mr. Reed. He had hinted that there were interesting things developing in Chelton just then. He had said openly that his interest and Cora's were mutual. Would he again molest her?

With this thought she determined not to get too far away from Jack.

She would have him call at the Hastings' house for her.